The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the ongoing wave of property demolitions by various government agencies across Nigeria, describing the actions as inhumane and economically disastrous.
In a statement shared via his official X handle on Monday, Obi condemned the demolition of citizens’ homes, shops, and businesses—often carried out without prior notice or due process.
“I like to reiterate my strong condemnation of the willful destruction of people’s property and goods by governments at any level without notice,” he said. “These demolitions, which have destroyed structures and merchandise worth billions of naira, are both insensitive and unjustifiable.”
Obi expressed dismay that such actions were taking place at a time when millions of Nigerians were already struggling under severe economic hardship.
“An administration whose policies have pushed several million Nigerians into poverty in just 29 months should show compassion for its citizens,” he said. “Instead of lifting people out of poverty, these demolitions are plunging them deeper into hardship.”
The former Anambra governor emphasized that the demolitions not only destroy livelihoods and businesses but also send a disturbing message to investors and entrepreneurs that their efforts can be wiped away overnight.
“What legal authority justifies the destruction of private property—clearly not used for criminal purposes—without prior notice or due process?” he questioned. “Are these actions genuinely in the public interest, or are they arbitrary and disproportionate exercises of power?”
Obi urged both federal and state governments to ensure that urban development and enforcement efforts respect the rule of law and the rights of citizens.
“These acts of demolition threaten the very foundations of economic growth and social stability,” he warned. “Every citizen has the right to build a life through honest work, and that right must never be trampled upon.”
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